The Hard Truth About Fast Cars

For years, I dreamed of owning a performance car. As a kid, growing up with limited financial means, the BMW M2 represented the pinnacle of success—a symbol of everything I wanted to achieve. The idea of finally being able to buy one fueled my passion for cars and, in many ways, my career in automotive content creation. But after nearly a year of ownership, I’ve come to an unexpected realization: fast cars won’t make you happy.

It’s a bold statement, I know. We’ve all fantasized about getting behind the wheel of a high-performance machine, feeling the surge of power as the engine roars to life. And don’t get me wrong—owning the M2 was exhilarating at first. But the day-to-day reality of living with a car like this is much different from the dream. If you’re considering making the leap into high-performance car ownership, there are some hard truths you need to know.

The Financial Sinkhole

The first and most obvious issue is cost. A brand-new BMW M2 sits around £72,000 ($90,000 USD), and unless you’re one of the lucky few who can buy it outright, you’re looking at payments ranging from £750 to £1,000 a month. That’s a mortgage for some people. And that’s before factoring in depreciation—mine lost £5,000 in value within the first year alone.

Then there’s maintenance. A set of rear tires for the M2 runs about £600-£700 ($800-$900 USD), and if you actually drive the car the way it was meant to be driven, you’ll be replacing them more often than you’d like. Fuel economy? If you’re gentle, you can stretch a tank to 30 mpg on the highway. But use all 500 horsepower as intended, and you’ll be lucky to get 100 miles before needing to refuel. The bottom line? If you want to enjoy a car like this, you need to keep feeding the beast. And that cost adds up quickly.

The Reality of Daily Driving

Owning a fast car sounds great—until you actually have to live with one. The M2 is wide. Too wide. Navigating city streets and parking lots feels like trying to squeeze an elephant through a doggy door. The seating position is awkward, visibility is limited, and every trip through town is an exercise in frustration.

And then there’s the attention. When I first got the car, I thought I’d love turning heads. The reality? It’s exhausting. People constantly stare, approach me with questions, or—worse—try to test me on the road. And that’s not even the biggest issue. The darker side of owning a high-performance car is that it attracts the wrong kind of attention, too.

One night, after a drive, I noticed a blacked-out Range Rover following me. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but as I got closer to home, I realized it was still behind me. Growing up in Tottenham, I’m no stranger to danger, so instead of heading straight home, I made four right turns—forcing the car to reveal whether it was actually following me. Sure enough, it was. Once they realized I was onto them, they peeled off. Nothing happened, but it was a stark reminder of the risks that come with owning a flashy car. After that, I installed security cameras. Eventually, I moved to a quieter area with a garage, just to keep the car out of sight.

The Problem With Too Much Power

Let’s talk about performance—because this is the real gut punch. The M2 is an engineering marvel, but its capabilities far exceed what’s practical for road driving. With 500 horsepower on tap, you barely have time to enjoy full-throttle acceleration before reaching illegal speeds. Third gear, foot down, and within seconds, you’re at triple-digit speeds that could land you straight in jail. It’s exhilarating, sure. But it’s also frustrating. You’re constantly holding back, unable to fully exploit the car’s potential without risking your license—or worse.

And here’s something that surprised me: the more powerful a car is, the less engaging it can be at normal speeds. My old Mini JCW made me feel like a hero every time I drove it. The M2? It’s so composed, so capable, that unless you’re pushing it to its limits, it feels numb. It’s wide, heavy, and planted—qualities that make it incredible on a racetrack but less thrilling on the winding B-roads I love. I’ve come to realize that a great road car isn’t necessarily the fastest one. It’s the one that makes every drive feel special, even at legal speeds.

Coming to Terms With the Truth

After nearly a year with the M2, I’ve reached a conclusion I never expected: this isn’t the car for me. In fact, I’m considering swapping it for something completely different—an MX-5. You might laugh, but hear me out. The MX-5 is light, playful, and engaging at any speed. It won’t drain my bank account, and I won’t have to worry about depreciation, tire costs, or fuel consumption. More importantly, I’ll actually want to drive it. Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

Fast cars won’t make you happy. If anything, they can become a burden—financially, practically, and even emotionally. If you’re thinking about buying a high-performance car, ask yourself why. If the answer is anything other than ‘because I love driving it,’ you might want to reconsider.

Cars are meant to be driven. And if you’re spending more time worrying about costs, logistics, or unwanted attention than actually enjoying the drive, then maybe, just maybe, it’s time to rethink the dream.

Mick is a lifelong car enthusiast who shares his passion for driving on his YouTube channel, Mick Drives Cars. His content goes beyond the usual specs and horsepower figures, focusing on the real-world joys (and frustrations) of car ownership. Follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/mickdrivescars and check out his YouTube channel at youtube.com/@MickDrivesCars for more honest, insightful automotive content.